Page 97 of The Summer Escape

The young waitress smiled down at her while she handed over the receipt. “Someone loves their daddy, don’t they?” She gave a breezy smile before waltzing away.

“I think we ought to get home,” Trystan said, smiling tightly as he tapped Ellie’s nose. “It’ll be bedtime soon.”

She kept quiet until they were outside, where she asked if he’d carry her. There was something unnerving about the way she stared at him as he walked with her on his arm, and he wondered if he ought to have said something about the waitress’s remark. Not that he had any clue what he’d say. Maybe Ellie hadn’t even heard. She was probably miles away in a daydream.

They were halfway home and she’d tangled her fingers into his hair when she finally spoke.

“Are you my daddy?”

He shifted her onto the other arm and felt a tug at his hair roots before her fingers broke free. “No. I’m not.”

“The lady in the restaurant said you are.”

“She just guessed because we were together … people like to guess things about other people.”

“You didn’t tell her you aren’t my daddy.”

“No.” He puffed his cheeks out. “She’d already walked away. And I’m not sure what I would have said anyway,” he muttered under his breath.

“Why not?” Ellie asked. “You could tell her you’re just Trystan and not my daddy.”

“She would have thought that was strange. I’d have had to say ‘I’m your mum’s boyfriend’.”

“Why didn’t you say that?”

“I don’t even know if it’s true.” He shook his head. “I’m friends with your mum … but I don’t know if … I just don’t know.”

She stroked his hair affectionately. “You don’t know very much, do you?”

“It certainly feels that way at the moment.”

“That’s okay.” Resting her head against his, she continued to stroke his hair. Briefly, Trystan thought the conversation was over. Until she drew back to aim a piercing stare at him.

“I don’t think I have a daddy,” she said.

“No,” he replied softly. “You don’t.” He decided that getting into technicalities probably wasn’t appropriate.

“Why don’t I?”

“Not everyone has a mummy and daddy.”

“Do you have a daddy?”

“Yes, but he died.”

“Did my daddy die?”

Trystan winced and picked up his pace, hoping that arriving home would put an end to the conversation. “No, he didn’t.” He had no idea what else to say on the matter and was fairly sure this entire conversation was what Beth was talking about when she mentioned not wanting Ellie to be confused.

“I just don’t have one?” Ellie asked.

“That’s right. All families are different.”

“A boy in my class has two mummies.”

“See! Some people might have two daddies. Or just live with their daddy. Some kids might live with grandparents.” He was about to mention step families and half siblings before deciding that would probably inspire more questions. “Some people have brothers and sisters,” he said instead. “And some people don’t.”

“You have lots of brothers,” she stated.